Panic bolt lock



Jan. 5,1926. 1,568,135

. w. J. ARRoLL PANIC BOLT Lock Q Filed Jan. 9,- 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l nfl MIMI l lll" I. l

Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,135

A W. J. CARROLL PANIC BOLT Loox A Filed Jan. 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l zo 27 25a 2G 2.5

Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. CARROLL,l OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO SABGENT & COM- PANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

v PANIC BOLT LOCK.

Application led January 9, 1923.

T all fao/wm t may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLTAM J. CARROLL,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of `West Haven, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Panic Bolt Locks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to emergency exit locks or so-'called panic bolt locks of the type which are applied to the doors of public buildings such as school houses, theaters, department stores, and thelike, for facilitating exit when a panic results from a fire or other cause.'

The invention has particular reference to a panic bolt mechanism in whichthe door is provided with a bolt to'engage a keeper or strike plate'upon the, floor and arranged to be released from its keeper by means of a swinging bar or the like upon the inner face of the door. My improved panic bolt mechanism may be used upon a single door or it may be used upon double doors, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and in the latter case, it will usually be found expedient to use it in connection with the door which normally remains closed and to which the companion door is latched or locked.

It sometimes happens that when a panic occurs within a building and a number of persons crowd against the door in seeking an exit from the building, that the lock or latch bolt is so firmly bound by friction in its keeper, due to the immense pressure upon the door, tha-tit cannot be withdrawn by the usual emergency or panic bar, and as a result, the door will not open. The present invention is designed to avoid such a condition, and while it is provided with a latch structure which is permitted to swing out of the way or roll back upon the opening movement of the door, there is also provided a sliding bolt to control this latch member, but so arranged that it can never bind within its keeper.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an emergency exit mechanism of the character described, such that there will be no danger of the `mechanism jamming or binding when pressure is applied to the inner face of the door as is sometimes true in the case of a panic.

Serial No. 611,685.

Another ob] ect of my invention is the provision of a sliding bolt which acts to effect the retention of the door in closed position with associated mechanism which will prevent any binding or jamming of the bolt within its keeper.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a protruding bolt to effect the retention of the door in closed position, and associated mechanism whereby the door is prevented from an opening movement until the bolt is clear of its keeper, so that there will be no tendency for the bolt to bind frictionally against the edge of the keeper opening.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide upon the upper or lower edge of the door a latching or locking mechanism which will be retracted by an opening pressure upon the door, and mechanism to control the latch devised to hold it in operative locking position when desired.

More specifically, I provided the door at its upper and lower edge with a pivoted latch mechanism designed to be moved to inoperative position when an opening movement is imparted to the door, and arranged upon the door a sliding bolt to control the operation of the latch device, the arrangement being such that an opening movement of the door may not be begun until after the sliding bolt is free' from the mechanism with which it cooperates.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is an inside elevational view of a door provided with a panic bolt mechanism embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 ol Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the mechanism shown in the lower part of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in another position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line .5-5 oi Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line G-G of Fig. o,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of F ig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is asectional view on line S-Q of F ig. 4.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention which I have chosen to illustrate in 12 r ectively. The mechanism within the casing to' ei'e'ct the operation ot the rods l 12 from the panic bar 1i may be ot any t ed type, tie torm shown, h( Never, being that shown in the patent to l'o'ight, No. 1, fll, June 29, 1921). It will be understood. however, that any desired kind oi" ope mechanism' for these rods may be us il n aout departing from the present invention.

On the lower edge of the door is provided lic-oper plate 18 having a keeper openii 19 therein and within the sill or threshs conntersunl a easing 2O provided with supporting lugs 21 and rlhrough these lugs is passed a pivot pin 23 and upon this pin i pivoted a latch member 24 adapted to si. upwardly through an opening 2&2 in the le plate oi the casing 20 and enter thfl keeper opening 19 and hold the door in closed position. Cooperating with the latch member 24e is a lever 25 pivoted at 2G to the lugs 21 and 22, the forward end portion of this lever being in' the l'orm of a linger 26"L which rests within a recess 27 'formed in the latch member 2st.

i stirrup 2S is pivotally mounted upon the pivot pin 28 and is provided with an intermediate portion 29 which ove'rlies the end 30 of the lever 25, and is provided with an upstanding boss 31 which is designed to close an opening 32 in the face plate of the casing 20. rlhe spring S3 is provided to roinia1 y urge the stirriq) member 28 upwardly so that the boss 31 will close the opening lu order to control the movement of the lai-eh member 2st and to throw it positively into position to hold the door closed, when ilL is desirable, l have provided upon the lower portion of the inside Jface of the door a casing containing mechanism controlthe rod 11 by means ot the panic bar, through which in turn the latch member 2 controlled. This mechanism consists ot a bolt or plunger 35') slidably mounted in thc casing 3ft and adapted to be protractcrl through the opening S2 to contact with l 31 on the irrup 28, and. thus force l the sin-rap downwardly, and by means of the lever 25, throw the latch member 24 into i" protracted position within the keeper op ling l). lhis position of the parts is :thor-.rn in' Figs. 2 and 3 and 1t will be apparent that as long as this condition ob- E n c,

'protraetea position.

hassles) tains, it will be impossible to open the door due to the retention of the door by the latch 24. lt will also be observed that the opening 32 is somewhat larger in diameter than the protecting end of the plunger 235, so that as long as the door is held by the latch 24, the plunger' bolt will have no fric'tional contact with the periphery ot the opening 32.

The bolt 35 is controlled by means ot the rod 11 and panic bar 115i and for this purpose, the upper portion of this bolt is provided with a notch 36 adapted to receive the line'er 3T upon the lower end of the rod 11. lt will be noted that the notch 3G is somewhat wider than the Finger 37 so that there will be a slight amount ot lost inotion between these parts for apurpose to be hereinafter explained.

'il he normal position olf' the parts that shown in Figures 2 and 3, and it will be noted by reference to Patent No. dll, previously referred to, that a movement of the panic bar in either direction will tend to pull the rod 11 iuiwardly and withdraw the bolt from its operative It will be obvious that it might be possible for the bolt 3S to be retracted by pressure upon the door in an opening direction, on account of the tendency of such pressure to swing the latch 24 about its pivot To guard against such a contingency, a detent or stop is arranged in the form of a stirrup 38 which is pivoted at 39 within the casing 3la-nd is urged by a spring a0 into operative position to dog the boltin the position shown inl Fig. 3. The lower edge of this detent is adapted, when the bolt is in this position, to drop behind 'a shoulder 41 :termed on the bolt so as to eltectually dog the latter in protracted position. It will be apparent that, regardless of the amount of pressure which may be applied in an upward direction to the lower end oi the bolt it cannot be retracted into the case 3flr until the detent 38 has been swung to an inoperative position.

lWhile it is essential that the bolt be effectually and firmly dogged against retraction by pressure upon its lower end, it is just as essential that it be easily retracted by a pull upon the rod 11. Such an opera.- tion is obtained by providing the lower portion of the .linger 37 with a bevelled or cam face 42 which is adapted to engage the complementary tace ot a cross bar 4dupon the stirrup. It will be apparent, when a pull exerted upon the rod 11 that, due to the lost motion connection between the tin'ger l? and the recess or slot 36, the lower end ot the rod 11, by means ot' its cam engaging the cam 73, will first swing the detent upwardly7 out of eugagement with the shoulder 41 and then a continued movement of the'rod 11 will effect retraction of the bolt 35. The lost motion connection between the rod l1 and the bolt enables this rod to throw the detent out of engaging condition prior to` the exertion of any pulling force upon the bolt. The operation of my improved locking device is as follows:

When the door is opened, the latch 24, the lever 25, and stirrup 28 assume the positions shown in Fig. 4 wherein the latch rests in a lower position below the face plate of the casing 20. The door is then free to swing to a closed position without interference on the part of the latch member, as also shown in Fig. 4. Then the door reaches this position, the bolt 35 drops into the opening 32 and by impinging upon the boss 3l forces the latch 24 upwardly into the keeper opening 194 and holds the door in closed position. The detent 38 immediately drops behind the shoulder 41 so that any pressure upon the main part of the door will not effect the opening thereof. It will be obvious from Figures 2 and 3 that as long as the latch member 24 engages the inner face of the keeper opening, the bolt will not be permitted to impinge against the periphery of the opening 32, and hence, there will be no danger of the bolt jamming or binding it' pressure is exerted on the inside of the door in case of a panic, so as to render it difficult or impossible to withdraw the bolt. However', in view of the fact that the bolt 35 is entirely free from engagement with the sides of the opening when a light pressure is applied to the panic bar 14, the bolt is easily and quickly Withdrawn and thus the latch member 24 is permitted to drop back into the casing 20, due to its own weight, or if it is inclined to stick, it will be positively moved within the casing by an opening pressure applied to the door. It will be apparent, therefore, that if pressure is applied to the panic bar in a direction to push the door open, that such a pressure will withdraw the bolt 35 and immediately thereafter effectA the opening of the door.

lVhile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to all the details shown but on the other hand, the parts are capable of`modcation and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. Door holding mechanism comprising a latch bolt adapted to be mounted in the door j amb and to enter a keeper opening in the door; a second bolt mounted upon the door and controlling said latch bolt, said latch bolt holding said door in position to prevent the binding of said second bolt against the door jamb.

2. Door holding mechanism comprising a latch bolt and a keeper, said latch bolt being mounted 1n the door jamb and thc keeper being carried by the door; said bolt being movedl to retracted position by an opening movement of the door, a second bolt mounted upon the door and protractablc to control the latch bolt and manually operable means to operate said second bolt, said latch bolt holding the door closed until said manually controlled bolt has been withdrawn from operative position.

. 3. In a door holding mechanism, a latch bolt pivotally mounted in the door jamb, adapted to enter a keeper opening in the door; and pivoted to swing to retracted position in the same direction as that of the door to open position, a second bolt mounted upon the door and operable to cause the projection of said latch bolt into the keeper opening.

4. In a door holding mechanism, a bolt movably mounted in the door jamb, adapted to be projected in a keeper opening in the door, said bolt being moved to retracted position by an opening movement of the door; and a second bolt mounted upon the door and movable to effect the projection of said latch bolt.

5. In a. door holding mechanism, a latch bolt movably mounted in the doorv amb and adapted to be projected into a keeper opening in the door; said bolt being moved to retracted position by anopening movement ofthe door; a lever having a part thereof engaging said bolt; a second bolt mounted upon the door and movableY to cause the actuation of said lever to project the latch bolt into the keeper opening.

6. In a door holding mechanism, a latch bolt movably mounted in the door j aml, adapted to be projected into'a keeper opening in the door; and pivoted on an axis in the plane of the door when the latter is in closed position; a second bolt movably mounted upon the door and means to transmit the motion of said second bolt to .said latch bolt to project the latter into the keeper opening.

7. In a door holding mechanism, a door provided with a keeper opening in the lower edge thereof, a latch bolt pivoted below the door and adapted toswing upwardly into said opening, a lever mounted adjacent said bolt and having one end engaged therewith, a controlling bolt movably mounted upon the door and engaging the other end of said lever to actuate said pivoted bolt.

8. In a latching mechanism for a door, provided with a keeper opening in the lower edge thereof, a case mounted in the threshold below said door, a bolt pivoted to said casing and adapted to swing upwardly into the keeper opening, a lever mounted in the kcasing and having one end engaged with said bolt, said lever having a CID Cil

part thereof extending adjacent an opening in the upper side ot the casing, and a controlling bolt mounted upon the door and projectable into said opening to act-nate said lever to move said pivoted bolt.

D. ln a latchin'g m'eeoanism tor a door, having` a keeper opening in the bottom edge thereof. a casing mounted in the threshold below the door and providedwith tivo open ings, a bolt mounted in the casing adapted to he. projected through one or said openi Cs into' the keeper opening in the door, a lcontrolling holt mounted on the door and adapted to be projected into the casing through the other opening, and means to cause the actuation of said iirst named bolt by the movement of said :ontrolling bolt including a le fer pivotcd between its ends, having one end engaging said i'irst named b lt and its other end positioned adjacent one oft' the two openings in the casing, and a stirup engaging the last named end et the lever and being in turn engaged by said controlling bolt.

l0. In a door holding mechanism, a latch bolt movably mounted in the door jamb and adapted to enter a keeper' opening in the door; a second bolt movably mounted upon the door and adapted to he protracted into an opening` in the door jamb and means mounted Within the jamb to transmit the motion ot said second holt to said tirst bolt, said latch bolt holding said door in position to prevent the binding ot' said second bolt against the edge or" the amb opening.

ll. lin a door holding mechanism, a latch bolt movably mounted in the door amb and adapted to be projected into' a. lreeper opening in the door; a. second bolt mounted upon the door and adapted to be projected into an opening in 'the jamh to actuate said latch bolt. said latch bolt holding said door in position to prevent the binding of said second bolt. against `the edge of the j amb opening.

l2. ln a door holding mechanism, means to hold the door in closed position, a controlling bolt protractable into an opening in the jamb to control. said means, said means holding the door in position to pre vent binding ot said controlling bolt against the edge ot the jamb opening untilL said bolt has been Withdrawn.

13. ln a door holding mechanism, a bolt mounted in the threshold below the door and adapted to be swung into engagement with the door to hold the latter in closed position, a controlling bolt 'for said first named bolt, a casing mounted on the door in which said controlling bolt is slidably mounted, an operating rod mounted on the door having a lost motion connection with said controlling bolt, a clogging member pivoted to the casing and adapted to hold the controlling bolt in protracted position,

nasales and means ivl'ierebyY theV actuation of said rod will move the clogging means to inojierative position.

l. ln a door holding` mechanism, a casing mounted onthe door, a oolt reciprocablj' mounted in the casing, an operating rod rcciprocably mounted in the casing in alignment with said bolt, (logging means pivoted to the casino' and normally urged into engagement ith said bolt to hold it in protracted position, and means Where-by the actuation said, operating rod Will move said dogginji` means to inoperative position.

' fin a door holding` mechanism, a casing: adapted to mounted on a door,l a boit rtciprocably mounted in the casing :md provided vvith a notch therein, an operating rod reciprocably mounted on the ci ng and having avi'ir j r loosely received in said notch to provide a lost motion connection between the r d and bolt, a stirrup pivoted to the casi and adapted to enthe bolt to dog it protracted posin, and cooperating cam vsurfaces on said ,':tirrup and operating rod whereby the r i. tion of the latter Will move said stirrup nto position to disengage the bolt prior to the retraction thereof.

16. In a door holding mechanism, a latch bolt mounted in the threshold of a door and adapted to be protracted into an opening in the lower oi the door; a controllingholt mounted upon the door and adapted to be protracted into an opening in the threshold to actuate the latch bolt, said latch bolt holding said door in position to prevent the binding otl said controlling bolt against the edge ot the threshold opening.

l?. ln a door holding mechanism,l a bolt mounted in the door jamb, adapted to be protracted into a keeper opening in the door, and urged to retracted position by an opening movement ot the door; a second holt mounted upon the door and adapted to control said first holt, and means to dog said tir-st bolt in operative position. i

lt. ln a door holding mechanism.` a holt mounted in the door jainh, :ulaped to be protracted into a irc-open opening in the door, and urged to retracted position. by an opening movement of the door; a second bolt mounted upon the door and adapted to control said first bolt, and means to prevent retraction ot the rst holt by pressure applied to the door.

19. ln a door holding mechanism, bolt mounted in the door jamb, adapted to be protracted into a lrecpor openingl` in the door, and urged to retracted position by an opening movement ot the door, a second bolt mounted upon the door and adapted to control said iirst bolt, and means to dog said second bolt to prevent the retraction ot it and said rst bolt by pressure applied to the door.

20. In a door holding mechanism, a latch bolt pivoted in the door jamb, adapted to swing into a keeper opening in the door, and urged to."y retracted position by an opening movement of the door, means movably mounted upon the door adapted to hold said pivoted bolt in protracted operative posi-v In a door holding mechanism, a casing, a two-part bolt therein, means pivotally carried by the casing to dog one of the parts of said bolt against movement in one direction, and means whereby a movement o'l" the other part of the bolt in that direction will release said clogging means.

23, In a door holding mechanism, a. casing, a two-part bolt, both parts of which are mounted to reciprocate in the casing, dogging` means for said bolt whereby a pressure applied to one end thereof will be ineffective to move said bolt, but a pull upon the other end of said bolt will move the latter.

24. In a door holding mechanism, a twopartbolt, said parts being in alignment and having a lost motion connection therebetween, dogging means for one of said parts and means whereby movement of the other part will release the l'irst part from said clogging means.

25. In a door holding mechanism, a twopart reciprocating bolt, a lost motion connection between said parts whereby movement of one will cause a movement of the other in either direction, clogging means for one of said parts, and means whereby a movement of the other part first releases the clogging means and then moves said first part.

26. In a panic bolt mechanism for a swinging door, provided with a strike opening` in the lower edge thereof, a bolt mounted in the floor below the door and adapted to be projected into said opening, a controlling bolt for said projectable bolt reciprocably mounted on the door, an operating rod for said controlling bolt, clogging means for the controlling bolt, and means upon said operating rod `for moving the dogging means to inoperative position.

27. In a panic bolt structure, a retaining bolt adapted to be mounted below the door and projected into a strike opening in the lower edge thereof, a two-part controlling bolt for said retaining bolt, means to dog one of the parts of said bolt against movement in one direction and eo-operating cam means upon said dog-ging means and the other part of the bolt whereby said dogging means is moved to inoperative position.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on this 3 day of January, 1928.

WILLIAM J. CARROLL. 

